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BEARS, CAPITALS SWAP DEFENSEMEN; FYTEN REASSIGNED TO SC

12/17/2015 -

HERSHEY, Pa. – The Hershey Bears announced today that defenseman Connor Carrick has been recalled by the Washington Capitals, and that defenseman Aaron Ness has been returned from NHL duty. Additionally, forward Austin Fyten has been returned on loan to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. The announcements were made by Bears president/general manager Doug Yingst.

Carrick, 21, heads to Washington for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The 5-10, 183-pound native of Orland Park, Illinois has hit a recent hot streak, scoring eight goals and adding seven assists in 26 games with the Chocolate and White. Five of his eight tallies have come in his last six games, pulling him into second place among AHL defensemen in goals and into a tie for 12th in overall defensemen scoring. He also ranks fourth among AHL blueliners in shots on goal (65) and is the only AHL defenseman to have recorded a shootout-winning goal. Carrick’s eight markers match his single-season career high, recorded in 2014-15. He currently leads all Bears defensemen in scoring and has a total of 61 points (16 goals, 45 assists) in 112 career AHL games, all with Hershey.

Carrick has six points (one goal, five assists) in 34 NHL games with the Capitals. He was selected by Washington in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Ness, 25, returns from his first NHL recall to Washington but did not appear in any games. He returns to Hershey, where he tallied nine assists and a plus-five rating in 21 contests.

The 5-10, 192-pound native of Roseau, Minnesota has amassed 132 points (23 goals, 109 assists) in 301 career AHL games with Bridgeport and Hershey, and appeared in his 300th contest on December 5. In 29 NHL games with the New York Islanders, Ness registered one goal and two assists.

He was originally selected by the Islanders in the second round (40th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Fyten, 24, has appeared in six games with the Bears and recorded one assist. He returns to the Stingrays, where he dressed in 11 games and posted five points (two goals, three assists).

Fyten spent the entire 2014-15 season in the AHL, dressing in 64 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He notched 11 points (two goals, nine assists) along with 85 penalty minutes. The 6-1, 190-pound native of Sundre, Alberta has a total of 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists) in 128 career AHL games with Texas, Oklahoma City, Lehigh Valley and Hershey. In the ECHL, Fyten has recorded 61 points (25 goals, 36 assists) in 72 games with Idaho and South Carolina. Prior to turning pro, Fyten played junior hockey with the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes and Vancouver Giants, posting 122 points (55 goals, 67 assists) in 193 career games.